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Topic Review (Newest First)

05-13-2014 01:37 PM

Msmaria

Please keep us updated. I really hope its something your pup will outgrow.

05-13-2014 01:34 PM

Neko

I hope you get good news. Our vet though something was seriously wrong, ended up being an echo, a very loud echo. Some puppies also grow out of the condition. I am wishing you and pup the best.

05-13-2014 01:12 PM

maxjivi05

As of right now we are just saving up, I've found a place up here that can do the eco-cardiogram for 50-75$ depending on what all they want to do. I should be able to get it scheduled by tomorrow and pay the fee to get it done. Hopefully it's fixable

05-13-2014 12:39 PM

huntergreen

any update?

05-13-2014 10:30 AM

SusiQ

Also ask if the vet has a payment plan for situations like this. I know firsthand how expensive surgeries can be. My Raven had a partial mandibulectomy after a oral oseosarcoma diagnosis last May and after the biopsies, x-rays, and surgery, it was about $5000. Many vets will work with you rather than letting nature run it's course, particularly if it's fixable and also considering the age of the pup.

05-12-2014 12:10 PM

Msmaria

Im so sorry to hear about your pup. Call your local rescue organizations or ASPCA and see if they can refer you to any organizations that may be able to help you pay the vet fees. There is also care credit, that is interest free. Also search the Internet.

05-12-2014 10:57 AM

my boy diesel

insurance would not help at this point as it would be considered preexisting
care credit
and try hereIMOM Home

05-12-2014 12:23 AM

Colie CVT

The stage of the murmur is based on the sounds that they hear when they are listening to the dog and how easy you can listen to it. If the puppy has a grade 6 murmur, you likely can actually feel it when you place your hand on it's chest.

The echo would allow them to look at the structure of the heart and figure out what it causing the murmur. Whether the size of the heart is off, if the special holes in the heart that allow blood to flow from one side to the other don't close before birth, if there isn't something connecting the arteries. Most dogs with a really bad murmur don't tend to live longer than a few years. I've only seen one dog who had a PDA that wasn't fixed with something else up with the heart, who ended up with pyometra. It was extremely scare to put her under anesthesia. You can potentially hurt the system bad and push them into congestive heart failure.

People often fundraise to help with pet problems, apply for care credit, get pet insurance. However I have a feeling the heart having trouble would count as a congenital defect and you have to really look at what they will and won't cover and what kind of limits they may put on it.

My puppy had a low grade murmur, but he grew out of it before 6 months. The internist I work with said that if they still have it at 6 months, they won't grow out of it, and serious ones they generally don't. Definitely wish you guys luck. :/

05-11-2014 11:46 PM

huntergreen

Anubis, can a vet diagnose the stage of murmur with the echo?
op, your pup is very young, can you afford pet ins ?

05-11-2014 09:15 PM

Anubis_Star

I didn't mean to turn this into a flame thread. I was just being brutally honest. From a first hand experience, it can be very frustrating seeing people bring in sick puppies constantly when they have no money to take care of the puppy. You're in the situation you're in now and I applaud you for doing everything you can. But maybe brutal honest will make others think first.

Also just be very aware, regardless of what's causing the murmur, it is very unlikely this will be cheap. The echo just diagnosis the problem. If it's a PDA that's an easy fix with no long lasting complications, but it's still a 1000 $-2000$ + surgery on top of everything. If it's not a PDA and it's some other congenital defect, you're likely looking at medication for the life of the dog. Cardio drugs especially for a big dog are not cheap. Prescription I filled not long ago of a common cardio drug was 150$ just for 2 weeks worth for a larger dog.